10 Best Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

CR's testers say these models from brands including First Alert, Kidde, and Siterwell are great at protecting you and your loved ones from harm

By Courtney Lindwall
Home & Tech Writer

Updated April 10, 2026

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a person using a First Alert SMI100 smoke detector — A good combination detector will alert you to flames, smoke, and high levels of carbon monoxide.

Installing reliable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home can mean the difference between life and death.

About 60 percent of the fatalities from fire occur in homes without working fire alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And more than 400 people in the U.S. die from accidental CO poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In this article

Best Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Best Hardwired Smoke Detectors
Best Battery-Powered Smoked Detectors
Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Best Portable Carbon Monoxide Detectors

While many detectors look similar, not all respond with the same speed and efficiency. And third-party vendors continue to sell dangerously unreliable CO detectors that haven’t been certified by a testing organization, such as UL Solutions or Intertek Electrical Testing Labs (ETL), on retail sites like Amazon and Walmart.

That’s why we put dozens of models—including portable CO detectors that are handy for travelers—to the test to find options you can trust. In our lab, we expose the detectors to low CO levels (100 parts per million) and high CO levels (400 ppm) to see how quickly and accurately they detect the colorless, odorless gas. For models that display or announce specific CO levels, we check the accuracy of those readings.

It’s comparable to the way we test smoke detectors, exposing them to flaming fires and smoldering, smoky fires to see how well they handle both.

Most detectors need to be hardwired, battery-powered, or plugged into an outlet. If you’re replacing an old detector, remove it from its mount to determine the type you need.

Hardwired detectors require special wiring that’s typically found only in newer or renovated homes. It runs from the detector into a wall or ceiling.

Battery-powered detectors are wireless, which means they can be installed anywhere. They typically use replaceable batteries (usually 9-volt or AA) or lithium batteries that are sealed inside and last 10 years. Some portable CO detectors require recharging.

Plug-in detectors receive power from an outlet. Like hardwired detectors, though, they have a backup battery that takes over in the event of a power outage, and those batteries need to be replaced annually.

Newer models offer other helpful features—like smart-home alerts via a mobile app, or the ability to work in unison with other detectors so that when one goes off, they all do.

To see every model we’ve tested, see our smoke and carbon monoxide detector ratings (available to everyone, free of charge). For more help in selecting the model that’s best for you, check our buying guide, too. Below are the best smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, depending on your home’s needs.

Why Are Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Ratings Free?

CR is committed to safety. Ratings of lifesaving products like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, car seats, and bike helmets are available to everyone.

Best Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Best Hardwired Smoke Detectors

Best Battery-Powered Smoke Detectors

Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Best Portable Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Courtney Lindwall

Courtney Lindwall is a writer at Consumer Reports. Since joining CR in 2023, she’s covered the latest on cell phones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers as part of the tech team. Previously, Courtney reported on environmental and climate issues for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.